Broadleaf Thyme – Fragrant Culinary Herb

£6.75

Broadleaf Thyme (Thymus pulegioides) is a hardy, low-growing culinary thyme with larger leaves than common thyme, so every sprig carries more of that warm, savoury flavour. Supplied as a healthy plant in a 9cm pot, ready to plant on a sunny patio, in a herb bed or on a windowsill box.

Product Highlights

✔ Bigger leaves than common thyme: quicker to pick, easier to strip
✔ Rich, savoury flavour for roasts, stews, stuffings and marinades
✔ Pink-purple summer flowers loved by bees
✔ Hardy perennial, evergreen in most UK winters
✔ Compact and ideal for pots, rockeries and path edges

What You Receive

1 healthy, established Broadleaf Thyme plant (Thymus pulegioides) in a 9cm pot
Grown and packed with care in the UK

Why You'll Love It

Fresh thyme all year from one small plant
Thrives on neglect: sun and good drainage are all it asks
A native British thyme, perfect for wildlife-friendly gardens
Pairs beautifully with rosemary, sage and bay in a herb pot

Folklore & Fascinating Facts

Broadleaf thyme is native to Britain and grows wild on sunny chalk downland and grassland.
The Romans burned thyme to purify rooms and added it to cheese and liqueurs.
Medieval ladies are said to have embroidered a sprig of thyme onto scarves for knights as a symbol of courage.
The name thyme may come from the Greek thymon, linked to the idea of burning incense or of courage.

A Gift That Keeps Growing

A small plant that earns its place in every kitchen garden, and a lovely add-on gift for anyone who loves to cook.

Botanical name: Thymus pulegioides

Common name: Broadleaf Thyme, Broad-leaved Thyme

Life cycle: Hardy evergreen perennial

Height: 15–30cm

Spread: Up to 30cm

Flowers: Pink-purple, June to August

Position: Full sun

Soil: Free-draining, poor to moderately fertile

Suitable for containers: Yes

Suitable for beginners: Yes

Pollinator value: High

Planting

Location: Full sun in free-draining soil or gritty compost. Thyme hates sitting in wet soil.

Planting time: Spring to early autumn, avoiding frozen or waterlogged ground.

Spacing: About 25–30cm apart; plants spread to around 30cm.

Care

Watering: Water to establish, then only in long dry spells. Pots need watering in summer but should drain freely.

Feeding: Little feeding needed; too much makes soft, less flavourful growth.

Pruning: Trim lightly after flowering to keep plants compact. Avoid cutting into old bare wood.

Harvesting & Storage

Harvesting: Pick sprigs as needed all year, taking the most in summer just before flowering for the best flavour.

Storage: Use fresh, or hang small bunches to dry somewhere warm and airy, then store in an airtight jar.

UK Growing Conditions

Fully hardy in most UK gardens. In very wet, cold areas, grow in pots with gritty compost and raise them on pot feet over winter.

Culinary Uses

Add sprigs to roast chicken, lamb, potatoes, stews, soups, stuffings and tomato sauces. The larger leaves strip quickly from the stem.

Wildlife & Garden Benefits

The summer flowers attract bees and butterflies, and the low, spreading habit makes it ideal for path edges, gravel gardens and rockeries.

Plants: Plants are carefully packed and normally dispatched within 2–4 working days. Some plants may be delivered at the most appropriate time for planting or potting on.

Seeds and garden supplies: Seeds and garden supplies are normally dispatched within 2–4 working days.

Seasonal items: Bulbs, bare-root plants, trees and other seasonal products may be dispatched at the appropriate planting time to support successful establishment.